Feeler mechanism for automatic filling-replenishing looms.



U. HEBERT.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIQ FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS. APPLICATIONFILED APR. 9. 1914.

1,151,100 Patented Aug. 24, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Frmmmn I lllll h-l WaInesses. 5

UIHEBERT. -FEELER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMSLAPPLICATION FILVED APR. 9| 1914.

1,15Lfi10, Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- invenm'r.

in Pair UBALD HEBERT, OF MANCHESTER. NEW HAMPSHIRE.

EEELER MECHANISM FOR AUTQMATIC FILLING-REPLENISHING LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 9, 1914. Serial No. 830,784.

i which the following description, in connec tion with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel means fordetecting substantial exhaustion of filling in the active shuttle of theloom and thereupon automati cally effecting a change in. the operationof the loom,such as the automatic replenishment of the filling, or theautomatic stoppage of the loom.

In the preferred embodiment of the inven-.

tion illustrated herein this invention is shown as applied toa loom ofthe Northrop type which has been adapted to use bobbins having slottedbarrels into which the feeler arm is projectedwhen the filling is so farunwound from the bobbin barrel as'to uncover said slot or a portionthereof. In such automatic filling replenishing looms the detection bythe feeler of absence of filling upon the filling carrier usually causesa movable member to be positioned in the path of the shuttle box or someother element carried by the lay which causes the actuation of means :toinitiate the operation of the transfer mechanism. In'such looms acareful and accurate adjustment of the test:

ing mechanism isrequired to maintain the same in operative condition andeven when the parts are properly adjusted transfer is sometimes effectedprematurely by reason of the vigorous action of the lay.

One object of .6 invention therefore is to provide a simple but verysensitive mechanism for detection of substantial exhaustion of fillingwhich will not require constant adjustment but which will act withcertainty.

Another of the objects of the invention is to provide mechanism adaptedto the Northrop type of loom through which the actuation of the transfermechanism is initiated by mechanism other than the movement of the laypreferablyby means actuated from a cam upon the take up shaft of theloom whereby the likelihood of premature actuation of the transfermechanism is avoided.

Other objects of the invention and the pa -lire thereof will more fullyappear from the following description and accompanymg drawing and willbe particularly pointed out in the annexed claims; I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of a loomembodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical side elevation illustratingthe relative position of the feeler mechanism, the transmitter and apreferredmeans for actuating the same, Fig. 3 is a detail viewof thefeeler and the means for supporting the same.

llatented A ug. 24k, 1915. v

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates 'the' grdinary lay l,'having ashuttle box 2 inclosng a shuttle 3 provided with a-suitable fillmgcarrler 4, preferably a bobbin having a slot 5 in its barrel near thebase thereof, the

shuttle and shuttle box being provided respectively with slots 6 and 7through which the end of the feeler is adapted to pass. The lay ismounted in the usual manner and the shuttle carried thereby is adaptedto be replenished from a battery 8 from which the filling carrier isdelivered by a transfer arm 9 which is actuated through a controllingrock shaft 10 in the usual manner.

The loom is provided with the usual filling fork mechanism 12 and wefthammer 13 for arm-16 projecting upwardly from'the con-- trolling rockshaft 10. I

The breast beam is preferably provided with the usual extension 17having a notched 'slot 18 to receive a shipper lever 19, a lever 20mounted upon a pivotQl being'adapted to disengage the shipper from thenotch through the automatic operation of the stop mechanism in the usualmanner.

As illustrated in the drawing a transmitter 25 is provided which isadapted to raise the latch 15 into engagement with a notch in thevibrating actuator or w eft hammer as is the case in the ordinaryconstruction of. the Northrop automatic loom but the character of thetransmitting lever as embodied in my invention is modified and the-means for actuating it are derived from a suitable constantly movingpart of the loom other than the lay, such as a cam upon the tak'oupshaft, the operation ofthe transmitter being merely controlled by theaction of the feeler.

In the preferred form of invention illustrated herein the one end of thetransmitterf extends beneath the'latch 15 in the *usual manner but itsopposite end is pivoted upon a lug 26 projecting laterally from abracket 27 which is rigidly secured to a lug 28 extending upwardly fromthe extension I 17, suitable lugs 29, 30 serving to guide the free endof said transmitter; The transmitter is provided intermediate of itsends with a laterally projecting stud'32 upon which is mounteda'vibrating member con-.

link 36 causes the vibrating member nor-' mally to oscillate idly uponits pivot 32, but when the end of the free arm 35 is restrained thereciprocating link causes a bodily movement of the lever raising thepivot 32 and thereby actuating'the transmitter 25 to position the latch15 in the path of the vibrating actuator or weft hammer. Means for thusrestraining the movement of the free end of the'vibratorare preferablycontrolledfrom the feeler in the following manner: The feeler 40preferably is slidably mounted in a bearing 41 extending laterally froma bracket 42 which is-adjustably secured. to the extension 17 saidbracket be- 85 ing provided at its lower end with an ear 43 having astud 45 upon which an arm 44 is pivotally mounted. The arm 44 ispivotally attached at its upper end to the feeler 4O and is provided atits lower end with a lat- 0. eralarm having a counterweight 46 whichnormally holds the feeler in feeling position. A suitably cushioned lug47 projecting from the bracket 42 limits the movement of the arm 44 inone direction and a resili- 45 cut member 48 preferably constructed ofheavy 'leather serves to arrest the movement of the arm 44 when thrustforward by the feeler by its engagement with the filling on the bobbin.The arm 44 is provided with 50 a laterally extending ledge 49 which isheld normally beneath the end 35 of the vibrator, but is withdrawn fromsaid position whenever the arm 44 is rocked by the feeler; upon itsengagement with the filling carrier as the lay beats up.

When the filling has become sufficiently exhausted, to expose the slot 5in the bobbin barrel the feeler 40 will not be pressed forward and theledge 48 will remain in the path of the free end 35 of the vibrator thusrestraining the downward movement thereof. By reason of this restraintthe vibrator thereof and with it the latch 15 into the path of thevibrating controller or weft hammer. Upon the forward movement of thelatter the arm 16 of the shaft 10 will be forced forward thuspositioning the dog of the transfer mechanism in the path of the lay in.the usual manner to cause the'transfer arm to deliver a new fillingcarrier from the hopper into the shuttle.

It will'be observed that by reason of the fact that the feeler merelycauses the vibration of the pivoted arm 44 which is provided with arelatively wide ledge 4 and of the.

'furtherfact that a considerable amplitudeof movement is permitted whenthe feeler ggo entersthe-slot in the bobbin, the delicate adjustmentswhich have been heretofore necessary are eliminated and the constantattention required thereby avoided.

g It will be obvious that if desired the mechanism above described maybe caused to cooperate with the shipping mechanism of the 110m in such amanner as to cause the stoppage of the loom upon the detection ofexhaustion of filling.

It will also be obvious that the vibrator 34, 35 may be actuated fromany rotatable shaft of the loom and. that its actuation" from the takeup shaft as disclosed herein is merely illustrative of a convenientmeans, probably the most convenient means, for actuating the same.

It. isto be understood therefore that the embodiment of the inventionherein -is merely illustrative and is not restrictive and that it may beembodied in various other forms of mechanism.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: 5

1. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, transferring mechanism,means for actuating the same including a vibrating member actuated fromthe take-up shaft of the loom to vibrate in a vertical plane, a feeler,a counterweighted pivotally'mounted member connected thereto, havingmeans adapted upon detection of absence of filling by said feeler toarrest said vibrating mem ber and thereby initiate the actuation of thetransfer mechanism.

2. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, transferring mechanismincluding a latch adapted to be positioned in the path of a vibratingactuator. atransmitter, a vibrating member pivotally mounted thereon, afeeler, an oscillating arm controlled by said feeler and having a memberadapted upon detection of absence of filling to engage said vibratingmember and thereby cause the actuation of the transmitter to positionthe latch in the path of the vibrating actuator whereby the actuation ofthe transferring mechanism will befinitiated.

3. In an automatic 'filling replenishing eaidlatch comprising atransmitter, a vibrating'member pivotally mounted thereon,

a feeler and 'means controlled by said feeler adapted upon detection ofan absence of filling to engage said vibrating member and thereby tocause the positioning of the latch in the path of he vibrating actuatorto cause the actuation of the transferring mechanism.

4. In an automatic filling replenishing loom transferring mechanism andmeans for actuating the same comprising a controlling rock shaft, alatch carried thereby adapted to be positioned in the path of avibrating actuator, a transmitter for positioning the same, a vibratingmember pivoted thereon having one end actuated by a suitable cam. afeeler, and means controlled thereby adapted upon detection of absenceof filling to restrain the vibration of the other end of said vibratingmember and thereby cause bodily moyement thereof to actuate thetransierrer to cause-the positioning of the'latch m the path of thevibrating actuator.

"sence of filling to cause bodily 5, In an automatic fillingreplenishing loom, transferring mechanism including a controlling rockshaft, a latch carried thereby adapted to be positioned in the path of avibrating actuator, a transmitter for positioning said latch, avibrating member pivoted upon said transmitter, means actuated bytheta-ke-up shaft of the loom connected to one end of said vibratingmember, a feeler and means controlled thereby adapted-to be positionedin the path of the other end of said vibrating member upon detection ofabmovement thereof to actuate the transmitter to cause the-positioningof the latch in the path of the vibrating actuator.

6. In an automatic filling replenishing loom transferring mechanism,means or actuating the same comprising a controlling rock shaft, a latchcarried thereby adapted to be positioned in the path of a member carriedby the weft hammer, a transmitter niizotally supported at one end andengaging said latch at its opposite end, a vibrating member pivotallymounted upon said transmitten intermediate of its ends, means attachedto one end of said vibrating member'for actuatingthe same, a feele'rmounted 'upon an arm having a projection adapted upon detection ofabsence of filling to be positioned beneath the free end of saidvibrating member to cause bodily movement thereof to actuate saidtransmitter and thereby position the end of the latch in the path ofsaid weft hammer. j

7 In an automatic filling replenishing floater cf patent may be obtainedfor five 'toposition loom, transferring mechanism comprising a transferarm, a dog carried thereby adapted to be positioned in the path of thehunter of the lay, a controlling rock shaft for said dog, an arm carriedthereby, a latch pivotally mounted upon said arm adapted to bepositioned in the path of a member carried by the weft hammer, atransmitter having one end extending beneath said latch and pivotallymounted at-its opposite end, a vibrating member pivotally mounted uponsaid lever, means connected to one end of said vibrator for continuouslyvibrating the same, a feeler, an arm actuated thereby having a ledgeadapted upon detection by said feeler of absence of filling to enterbeneath the free end of the vibrating member and "restrain the movementthereof whereby bodily movement ofsaid vibrating member will be producedwhich will actuate the transmitter to position the end of said latch inthe path of the weft hammer and thereby cause the action of thetransferring mecha- IllSIIl.

8. In an automatic filling replenishing "loom, transferring mechanismincluding a terweighted armadapted tobe positioned in the path of saidvibrating member when the feeler enters the slot in the bobbin andthereby to cause the actuation of the transmitter the latch in'the pathof the vibrating actuator.

9. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, transferring mechanismincluding acontroller shaft and latch thereon adapted to be positionedin the path of a vibrating actuator, a transmitter, a" vibrating memberpivotally mounted thereon, an adjustable feeler stand, a feeler, amember controlled by said feeler having a ledge adapted, upon detectionof absence offilling by said feeler to arrest said vibrating member andthereby cause the actuation of the transmitter to position the latch .inthe path of the vibrating actuator whereby the actuation of transferringmechanism will be initiated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

F. A. MONTGOMERY, DANA A. EMERY.

cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatentai Washington, D.5.?

